Hudsonville community rallies behind Reinsma family after sudden loss of father of 10

OTTAWA COUNTY — Travis Reinsma of Hudsonville leaves behind a legacy of tireless hard work, deep devotion to his family and community, and the cherished tradition of his morning breakfast sandwiches — a beloved favorite of his wife and ten children.

Reinsma, 50, died on Oct. 8. The self-taught ironworker seemingly leaves a void in the close-knit Hudsonville community where he lived and attended school with his wife, Breck — both graduates of Hudsonville High School.

His obituary and sentiments left on social media paint a picture of a man who worked his whole life caring for those around him. 

“He had an extraordinary ability to make people feel seen, welcomed, and accepted exactly as they were. He had a special place in his heart for the overlooked, the forgotten, and those who simply needed someone in their corner. He didn’t just befriend people; he brought them into his life. To many, Travis became the father figure, brother, or friend they never knew they needed,” according to his obituary. 

He leaves Breck, his wife of 30 years, and their 10 children: Daniel, Elijah, Ella, Noah, Gabriel, Andrew, Violet, Lucas, Ruby, and Vera, along with two grandchildren, Jackson and Sumayya.

In Hudsonville, where community life revolves heavily around high school athletics and church pews, Reinsma’s death has brought a massive surge of support for a family deeply woven into the local fabric.

"In addition to his contributions as an athlete, Travis is a father of 10, with nine of his children participating in the sport of wrestling — four alums, two current high school athletes, and three in the youth program," the Hudsonville Eagles wrestling team wrote on its Facebook page.

The Reinsmas chose to stay in Hudsonville following high school graduation and sent their children through the same public school system. 

In a series of posts on her Facebook page, Breck Reinsma described the sudden swell of meals, messages, and financial help as "nothing short of overwhelming."

"The loving words, tight hugs, shared tears, meals, prayers, and financial support have touched our hearts in ways I can’t even begin to put into words," she wrote. "We are navigating a loss that still feels impossible to comprehend, and knowing that my children and I are surrounded by so much love brings comfort during the darkest days of our lives."

The community has enveloped her and the couple’s children, she said. 

"Travis was such an incredible guy, and the love being shown to our family is a beautiful reminder of just how many lives he touched,” she wrote. 

According to his obituary, Reinsma was the last survivor of his immediate family. Gone are his twin brother, Gavin; his sister, Hope Lynn; and his parents, Gary Lynn Reinsma and Denise Rae Wolfe. 

Reinsma was born Oct. 31, 1975, in Grand Rapids. Family members described him as a man who lived without pretension, took in people who needed a place to stay, and often took on structural and mechanical projects for neighbors without asking for anything in return.

His sudden death leaves his wife as the sole surviving adult in the home they built together. But close friends and family aren’t letting her suffer alone. 

"Please know that whether you’ve donated, brought a meal, sent a message, offered a hug, or simply kept our family in your thoughts and prayers, every single gesture means more than you will ever know," she said in her social media posts.. "From the bottom of my heart, thank you for loving our family through this."

Services were held Oct. 14 at Daybreak Church in Hudsonville. Friends and supporters have established a GoFundMe campaign and an online Meal Train to assist the family with ongoing expenses.

As of Thursday, Oct. 15, the fund had reached  $42,545 out of the $45,000 goal. 

— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at hvandyke@ottawanewsnetwork.org.